Retaining dog for axially-movable locking member in a door lock mechanism



Sept. 26, 1961 M. E. WILLIAMS I 3,

RETAINING DOG FOR AXIALLY-MOVABLE LOCKING MEMBER IN A DOOR LOCK MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 8, 1960 FIG.

FIG. 2

MURRAY E. WILLIAMS INVENTOR.

Sept. 26, 19 M. E. WILLIAMS RETAINING DOG FOR AXIALLY-MOVABLE LOCKING MEMBER IN A DOOR LOCK MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 8, 1960 FIG.

MURRAY E. WILLIAMS IN VEN TOR.

United States Patent Ofiice Patented Sept. 26, 1961 3,001,810 RETAINING DOG FOR AXIALLY-MOVABLE LOGK- ING MEMBER IN A DOOR LOCK MECHANISM Murray E. Williams, 1065 Washtenaw NE, Grand Rapids, Mich. Filed Aug. 8, 1960, Ser. No. 48,155 4 Claims. (Cl. 292-169) This invention relates to the construction of door lock mechanism of the type equipped with a locking member movable axially with respect to the knobs. This type of locking device is frequently used in connection with a push-button actuator associated with the inner knob. The manual actuation of the button (or an equivalent device) axially displaces the locking member, and some form of retaining means must be incorpated to maintain the locked condition until the inner knob is rotated. Such rotation effects release of the lock. This invention is particularly related to this section of the mechanism.

It has been'recognized that a retaining dog can be mounted on the axially-movable locking member for engaging the retractor of the lock mechanism, with provisions made for disengaging the dog by movement of the retractor on operation of the knob. The present invention provides a novel application of spring action to the retaining doggiving a dual function to the spring which is responsible for biasing the locking member against the push-button. The invention also provides a novel construction for the locking dog itself.

The several features of the invention will be analyzed in further detail through a discussion of the particular embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 presents a sectional elevation along the knob axis, and showing the look mechanism in the unlocked condition.

FIGURE 2 illustrates the same mechanism shown in FIGURE 1 in an intermediate position as the'locking member is manually actuated. FIGURE 3 illustrates the same mechanism shown in FIGURES 1 and'2 in the fully locked condition.

FIGURE 4 presents the perspective View of the retractor incorporated in the mechanism illustrated in FIG- URES 1, 2, and 3.

FIGURE 5 illustrates the locking bar incorporated in the mechanism shown in FIGURES 1, 2, and 3.

FIGURE 6 illustrates the condition of the mechanism just prior to the instant of release of the locking dog on movement of the retractor as the inner knob is actuated.

The lock mechanism illustrated in the drawings includes the opposite knob assemblies based upon the coaxial knob sleeves .10 and 11, respectively, which are rotatably mounted in the frame indicated generally at 12. In the unlocked condition of the mechanism, rotation of either of the knob sleeves will induce movement of the retractor 13 against the action of the retractor springs 14. The illustrated mechanism is of the cylindrical type, and the jaws 15 of the retractor will normally engage the stem of the latch bolt (not shown) to withdraw it out of engagement with the keeper secured to the door jam-b. The structure thus far described is conventional.

Under some conditions, it is desirable to block the outer knob assembly '10 so that it is no longer possible to open the door from that side. The inner knob assembly 11 is provided with a locking bar 16, which is conventionally actuated by a push-button (not shown) or any other convenient manually-operated device. Actuation has the effect of axially displacing the locking bar 16 to the left, as shown in the drawings, to bring the portion 17 of the locking bar into a position in which it serves as a key acting between the opening 18 in the frame and the knob sleeve .10. Under such conditions, the knob sleeve 10 becomes rotatably fixed with respect to the frame, and can no longer be used to actuate the latch bolt. This position of the locking bar is illustrated in FIGURE 3.

The locking bar 16 is normally biased to the right, against the the action of whatever manual push button or other system is used to control it, by the spring 19 received Within a cup-shaped member 20 associated with the knob sleeve 10. To maintain the locked position of the locking bar 16 against this biasing action, a locking dog 21 is pivotally mounted on the locking bar 16 as best shown in FIGURE 3. The dog 21 is formed by two similarly-shaped pieces 22 and 23 lying on opposite sides of the bar 16, and connected by the transverse portion 24. An opening in this transverse portion 24 receives the extension 25 of the locking bar, and the shoulder 26 forms a fulcrum against which the dog is free to rotate in a clockwise direction, as shown in the drawings. It should be noted that a slanted relationship exists between the transverse portion 24 and a plane perpendicular to the axis of the knob assemblies. The action of the spring 19 is brought to bear against the transverse portion 24 through the medium of the washer 19a, and the combined efiect of the force of the spring 19 and the reaction forces provided at the shoulder 26 creates a moment imparting a tendency for counterclockwise rotation of the dog 21. A stop portion 22a extends between the sides 22 and 23 of the dog, and bears against the under side of the lock bar 16 (as appearing in the drawings) to determine the limit position shown in FIGURES 1, 3, and 6.

The opposite sides 22 and 23 of the dog are provided with detent portions 27 for engagement with the panel 28 of the retractor to maintain the locking bar 16 in locking position, as shown in FIGURE 3. During the movement of the locking bar 16 from the inactive or unlocked position shown in FIGURE 1 to the locked position of FIGURE 3, the components move through the intermediate condition shown in FIGURE 2. As the bar 16 is moved to the left (carrying the dog 21 with it), the inclined face 29 of the detent portions 27 engages the edge of the panel 28, and continued movement induces the rotation apparent in FIGURE 2. When the holding face 30 has moved sufiieiently to the left to pass the panel 28 of the retractor, the dog snaps into position shown in FIGURE 3 under the effect of the action on the spring 19. The device is restored to the unlocked condition by rotation of the inner knob assembly 11, which moves the retractor as shown in FIGURE 6. As the retractor moves in the direction to withdraw the latch bolt, the panel 28 proceeds out of an engagement with the detent portions 27, permitting the action of the spring 19 to snap the lock bar 16 back to the inactive position shown in FIGURE 1. The presence of the ofiset 31 in the locking bar 16 (best shown in FIGURE 5) has the effect of fixing the axial position of the dog 21 with respect to the locking bar in the locked position, so that the forces of the spring 19 are not limited merely to acting against the dog 21. When the stop portion 22a of the dog is in the position shown in FIGURES 1, 3, and 6, the loclnng bar 16 cannot be displaced to the right with respect to the locking dog.

The particular embodiments of the present invention which have been illustrated and discussed herein are for illustrative purposes only, and are not to be considered as a limitation upon the scope of the appended claims. In these claims, it is my intent to claim the entire invention disclosed herein, except as I am limited by the prior art.

I claim:

1. In a latch mechanism having opposite and substantially coaxial knob assemblies and a locking bar slideable axially with respect to said knob assembliesbetween locked and unlocked positions, said mechanism also having a retractor mounted for reciprocating movement on a path perpendicular to the axis of said knob assemblies, a system for positioning said locking bar, comprising: means forming a shoulder on said locking bar; a locking dog having a transverse portion provided with an opening receiving said locking bar, and also having opposite detent portions disposed alongside said locking bar on the opposite sides thereof and extending from said transverse portion, said locking dog being normally disposed with said transverse portion resting against said shoulder and having a cam portion at the side of said detent portions adjacent said transverse portions, said locking dog also having a stop extending laterally between said detent portions for engagement with said locking bar to limit the angular movement of said locking dog with respect to said locking bar; and biasing means urging said locking bar axially to unlocked position, said biasing means including a spring applying force to said locking bar via said transverse portion whereby a moment is generated between said spring and said shoulder tending to rotate said locking dog in a direction to engage said stop, said position presenting said detent portions on the opposite side of said locking bar from said stop and extending beyond the edge thereof for engagement with said retractor in the locked position of said locking bar, said retractor normally moving away from said detent portions and thereby releasing said locking bar on actuation of said latch mechanism, said cam portions having an inclined face engageable with said retractor on movement of said locking bar toward locked position to induce rotation of said locking dog with respect to said locking bar away from the position determined by said stop, and a holding face axially opposite from said inclined face.

2. In a latch mechanism having opposite and substantially coaxial knob assemblies and a locking bar slideable axially with respect to said knob assemblies between locked and unlocked positions, said mechanism also having a retractor mounted for reciprocating movement on a path perpendicular to the axis of said knob assemblies, a system for positioning said locking bar, comprising: means forming a shoulder on said locking bar; a locking dog having a transverse portion provided with an opening receiving said locking bar, and also having opposite detent portions disposed alongside said locking bar on the opposite sides thereof, said locking dog being normally disposed with said transverse portion resting against said shoulder and having a cam portion at the side of said detent portions adjacent said transverse portions, said locking dog also having a stop extending laterally between said detent portions for engagement with said locking bar to limit theangular movement of said locking dog with respect to said locking bar; and biasing means urgingsaid locking bar axially to unlocked position, said biasing means including a spring applying force to said locking bar via said transverse portion whereby a moment is generated between said spring and said shoulder tending to rotate said locking dog in a direction to engage said stop, said position presenting said cam portions on the opposite side of said locking bar from said stop and extending beyond the edge thereof for engagement with said retractor in the locked position of said locking bar, said retractor normally moving away from said detent portions and thereby releasing said locking bar on actuation of said latch mechanism, said cam portions having an inclined face engage able with said retractor on movement of said lockingbar toward locked position to induce rotation of said locking dog with respect to said locking bar away from the posia tion determined by said stop, and a holding face axially opposite from said inclined face.

3. In a latch mechanism having opposite and substantially coaxial knob assemblies and a locking bar slideable axially with respect to said knob assemblies between locked and unlocked positions, said mechanism also having a retractor mounted for reciprocating movement on a path perpendicular to the axis of said knob assemblies, a system for positioning said locking bar, comprising: means forming a shoulder on said locking bar; a locking dog having a transverse portion provided with an opening receiving said locking bar, and also having at least one detent portion disposed alongside said locking bar, said locking dog being normally disposed with said transverse portion resting against said shoulder and having a cam portion at the side of said detent portion adjacent said transverse portions, said locking dog also having a stop extending laterally from said detent portion for engagement with said locking bar to limit the angular movement of said locking dogs with respect to said locking bar; and biasing means urging said locking bar axially to unlocked position, said biasing means including a spring applying force to said locking bar via said transverse portion whereby a moment is generated between said spring and said shoulder tending to rotate said locking dog in a direction to engage said stop, said position presenting said cam portion on the opposite side of said locking bar from said stop and extending beyond the edge thereof for engagement with said retractor in the locked position of said locking bar, said retractor normally moving away from said detent portion and thereby releasing said locking bar on actuation of said latch mechanism, said cam portion having an inclined face engageable with said retractor on movement of said looking bar toward locked position to induce rotation of said locking dog with respect to said locking bar away from the position determined by said stop, and a holding face axially opposite from said inclined face.

4. In a latch mechanism having opposite and substantially coaxial knob assemblies and a locking bar slideable axially with respect to said knob assemblies between locked and unlocked positions, said mechanism also having a retractor mounted for reciprocating movement on a path perpendicular to the axis of said knob assemblies, a system for positioning said locking bar, comprising: means forming a shoulder on said locking bar; a locking dog having a transverse portion provided with an opening receiving said locking bar, and also having at least on detent portion disposed alongside said locking bar, said locking dog being normally disposed with said transverse portion resting against said shoulder and having a cam portion at the side of said detent portion adjacent said transverse portion; and biasing means urging said locking bar axially to unlocked position, said biasing means including a spring applying force to said locking bar via said transverse portion whereby a moment is generated between said spring and said shoulder tending to rotate said locking dog to a position presenting said cam portion at one side of said locking bar and extending beyond the edge thereof for engagement with said retractor in the locked position of said locking bar, said retractor normally moving away from said detent portion and thereby releasing said locking bar on actuation of said latch mechanism, said cam portionhaving an inclined face engageable with said retractor on movement of said locking bar toward locked position to induce rotation of said locking dog with respect to said locking bar.

References (Iited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

